Less plastic is more better
For more than two years, our small household (two adults, two kids) has been experimenting with reducing our plastic consumption. We’ve been strict and we’ve been lenient, and today, we’ve reached some sort of a plastic equilibrium, in which we only occasionally buy a plastic packaged food item or hand cream, and are happy with our mostly non-plastic surroundings.
Perhaps you can call us plastic sensitive. Here are a few of our learnings:
You don’t actually need that much plastic
We ambitiously set out to go plastic-free for a whole year. The day before, I thought about what to “stock up” on and decided to buy a few tubes of toothpaste. A few months into our project, I discovered that our local drugstore sold toothpaste tablets in a non-plastic packaging. Our transition became simpler with each passing week and after the first year was done, we had no desire to go back to purchasing plastic.
The positive effects have been cumulative. Basically, I either find a plastic-free alternative or reflect and discover that I don’t actually need to purchase the item. The things we do buy, like a wooden broom, are higher quality goods that last longer and are more aesthetically pleasing. Our “no plastic” rule has made me healthier and happier.
Now I “can’t” impulse buy chocolate, cookies, or chips; instead I bake or cooking with unprocessed, raw foods. I wear clothing made from natural fibers (cotton, linen, silk, wool, viscose) which doesn’t send microplastics to the oceans and makes me sweat less. Our children get plastic-free toys, like a wooden sand shovel which was handmade from an old skateboard. Win win win win win.
Tell other people about your plastic preferences
We also have gotten very good at talking with the people selling us stuff in stores. For example, when we buy feta cheese and olives at the local Turkish store, we bring our own containers. It’s never been a problem for store keepers to package their wares differently.
It has been good to talk about our no-plastic rule with other people, especially before they come over with a birthday present.
Find the goods and stores you need
If you live in the hip neighborhood of a large metropolis, chances are that a plastic-free or waste-free store has just popped up in your street. If not, you may have to start searching for alternatives. The good news is, there are lots of options.
In Berlin, we not only have a few explicitly packaging-free, plastic-free stores (many of which have an online shop as well), but also regular farmers markets, and organic food stores where most of the produce is not packaged. We’re also membership of a CSA (community supported agriculture) which gives us access to fresh, locally-grown food on a weekly basis.
Some things we’ve had to purchase online. Bulk recycled toilet-paper packaged in a cardboard box, for example. Sand toys made out of “bio-plastic”. A natural rubber pacifier. Ahhhm... hmmm… I can’t think of anything else.
Mother earth needs you to get your act together
Yes, one person doesn’t make a huge difference. But reducing the amount of plastic you buy and use actually feels good.
But just in case it’s not reason enough, the plastic in our environment is all pervasive, and it’s not easy to get rid of. Just this week, a group hauled 103 tons of fishing nets out of the Pacific. Collectively and individually, now is the time to rethink “waste”.
Do you want to try a life with less plastic? Do it! I support you 100%.
